I am more of a mask person than a scrub person but trying a lot of products made me appreciate scrubs more. Even though I really prefer masks I find that some scrubs really get when it comes to smoothing and softening my skin. I have tested a few scrubs but have only one in my stash and I’m happy to add the Como Popp-E Renewal Scrubby Wash from Holifrog. It was honestly love at first application.

It has a gel consistency that feels a bit oily but not oilier than I expected. I use this after double cleansing a couple of times a week. Due to the consistency, it almost feels like massaging a creamy, moisturizing mask onto my skin. It’s gentle and even though the poppy seeds don’t melt once it’s massaged onto the skin. I massage it for a few seconds before rinsing and I really like the instant result it gives.

After rinsing, my skin felt smooth and soft but not tight and dry. I have been using this once a week and I just really enjoy the feeling of my skin after each use. I will continue to use this and keep it as it just makes my skin look healthier and clearer. This is honestly my favorite product from Holifrog.

My actives and I are one and the same person but, I have been looking for gentler and more nourishing products. I felt like they are what my skin’s looking for and, of course, I’ll oblige.

23.5°N is a brand I have recently been curious about and thankfully, Glowie Co sent over some of their products for me to try. Using ingredients from natural farming in Taiwan, 23.5°N offers gentle formulations that are cruelty-free and are made without artificial coloring, fragrance, alcohol, and parabens. All the products I tried contains Oriental Beauty Tea, a plant indigenous to Taiwan. It’s farmed from the Emei Township in Hsinchu County, Taiwan. This extract is rich in polyphenols and promises to balance oil and moisture levels in the skin.

I have been using the Oriental Beauty Tea Balancing Facial Cleanser ($22) for a few months now and my skin is loving it. It uses glycerin, camellia leaf extract, and hyaluronic acid to gently cleanse the skin. It’s a foaming cleanser that has a thick whipped texture. It mildly lathers and gets rid of all oils on my skin without leaving it stripped or dry.

My favorite out of the bunch is the Oriental Beauty Tea Balancing Gel Mask ($29) which aims to detoxify and hydrate the skin while controlling oil using niacinamide, peppermint extract, and hyaluronic acid. I seriously enjoy this. It’s a gel mask that dries on the skin. The green tea smell is calming and the actual product feels soothing to the skin. It helps hydrate my skin and it feels gentle too. I like using this after exfoliating or on days when I just feel like giving my skin extra hydration.

The Oriental Beauty Tea Balancing Toner ($22) claims to clarify, hydrate, and control oil using peppermint extract and hyaluronic acid. This smells like iced tea, which I really like. It’s very watery and it sinks in quickly onto the skin. I’ve had more hydrating and nourishing toners than this one but this might work for those who want a gentle and soothing toner.

Overall, I enjoyed how these vegan products are extremely gentle and soothing on the skin. The Oriental Beauty Tea Balancing Gel Mask, especially, has been part of my weekly ritual. It was, at first, because of how it made my skin feel afterward. After a few weeks, however, I noticed how it helped balance and detoxify my skin. I love it.

The Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm from Banila Co is my OG first cleanser. I bought it during my first trip to Korea, before I even started this page, and have compared all my cleansing balms to it ever since. It set the standard as to how I want my cleansing balms to be – solid texture that melts to oil as it removes makeup and dirt can be rinsed with water and doesn’t leave a film on the skin. I had tubs and tubs of the original one, the one where the packaging is more colorful until they released other variants.

Since then, I have moved to the Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Revitalizing ($24) which uses the Zero Balance Technology with Resveratrol along with grapeseed oil and olive oil to cleanse the skin without stripping it. I may have other cleansing balm holy grails but this will always have a special place in my heart. It has the same sherbet-like texture, it still removes all traces of makeup, and it still leaves the skin feeling refreshed and thoroughly cleansed.

The Clean It Zero Foam Cleanser ($14) promises to gently cleanse the skin, reduce irritation, draw out impurities from clogged pores using active botanicals, hot springs water, vitamin e, and vitamin c. True to its claim, this feels really gentle on the skin as it cleanses. I prefer cleansing foams over other types of second cleansers so, it was easy to like this one. It also doesn’t leave any residue after rinsing but it doesn’t leave the skin feeling to stripped or dry either.

Before makeup, my oily skin plays better when I only use serums. For about two years now, I would combine hydrating serums and mattifying or hydrating primers, depending on what my skin needs. Moisturizers, however, is a product I only use at night. I was really hesitant to use the Silicone-Free Priming Moisturizer from Good Molecules.

It promises to be a primer/moisturizer that smoothes, hydrates, and preps the skin before makeup. It contains macadamia seed oil, shea butter, and naturally derived silicone alternative.

The creamy texture has a little weight to it made me put off trying this even more. My skin has just recently adapted back to the weather here after being exposed to cold and dry temperatures for weeks so. I have been using my usual serums and makeup but since I got back, I be greasy-oily after just a couple of hours. I felt like it wasn’t the right time to try this creamy primer/moisturizer so I waited for my skin to normalize. That was two weeks ago and honestly, I’m impressed.

It feels creamy, yes, but it applies thin and light on the skin, like a light gel-type moisturizer. It doesn’t have a grip and leaves the skin feeling dewy. I was afraid it would make me look oilier but it didn’t. My skin felt hydrated and nourished. Makeup holds better because I’m actually less oily than usual. One busy day, I forgot to retouch and after about six hours, my makeup still looked okay. There’s still some shine, especially in my t-zone, but I didn’t look slick at all. Even when used under foundation with dewy or satin finishes, it hydrated and moisturized my skin enough that I can go for more than half a day without checking my makeup.

For $14, I would recommend this to those looking for a nourishing and hydrating primer that lasts. This is also vegan, cruelty-free and is made without fragrance, alcohol, mineral-oil, and PEG.

With my recent focus on hydration, the Drunk ElephantF-Balm Electrolyte Waterfacial came at the right time. This new product is an overnight mask that promises to plump, cool, hydrate, and strengthen the skin with a 4-Electrolyte Blend (coconut water, sodium PCA, magnesium PCA, and prickly pear extract), vitamin f, niacinamide, 5-Ceramide Blend, squalane, and quercetin.

Reading the ingredients, it seemed like a nourishing and hydrating cocktail. The balm word in its name, however, sort of scared me. I don’t usually like applying balms on my face as I get easily clogged pores and my face is too oily to handle that kind of texture.

Nevertheless, I gave this a try and I was glad to find out that this doesn’t feel balmy at all. For an overnight mask, this actually feels light. Even in my roster of cream-based moisturizers, this is among the lightest. It is recommended to apply 4-5 pumps. It sits on top of the skin for a few seconds before leaving a silky smooth finish. It also feels nourishing and hydrating, like my skin is drenched from within. The morning after, the results are apparent. My skin is bright, plump, and glowing.

I like using this right after using acids, especially the Babyfacial because the combo just works so well on my skin, providing both nourishment and exfoliation. I would honestly recommend this to anyone looking for hydration and nourishment to the skin. It would also for those with sensitive skin as it is free off essential oils, silicones, fragrance, and PEGs. It’s also vegan and cruelty-free.